Incineration using Magnegas

ABSTRACT

A system for incinerating waste using Magnegas either in the primary burn process to achieve higher waste burning temperatures, in a secondary after-burn process to reduce pollutants, or in both the primary burn process and after-burn process. The use of Magnegas results in increased efficiency, reduced emissions, and additional heat. Heat produced is optionally used to generate electricity. In some embodiments, Magnegas is combined with another fuel such as oil or natural gas for desired burn characteristics or for economic reasons.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application no.61/982,568 filed on Jan. 18, 2008, and European application no.08150277.5 filed on Apr. 22, 2014, the disclosure of which areincorporated by reference.

FIELD

This invention relates to the field of waste incineration and moreparticularly to a system, method and apparatus for using a gas herewithin referred to as Magnegas in the process.

BACKGROUND

Garbage and waste incineration is a widely accepted alternative tolandfill for many reasons, including the amount of space taken by a landfill, transportation to the land fill, soil and water table pollutionfrom leaching of toxins into the soil and aquifer beneath the land fill,various aromas, wild life attracted by a land fill (e.g. rats, birds),release of methane gas, and the overall unsightliness of a land fill.Furthermore, even well lined landfills run the risk of soil and watercontamination due to earth shifting or sink holes. An incinerator is asystem that burns waste material, typically including organicsubstances. The incinerator converts the waste material into ash, fluegas and heat and the heat is often used to generate power. Mostincinerators require systems to clean the flue gas of the ash and otherpollutants.

Incinerators have a bad reputation and municipalities are reluctant toprovide permits for incinerators due to the high levels of emissionswhich typically require scrubbers in an attempt to clean the exhausts ofcombustion. For this reason, there is a lower level of usage ofincinerators, leading to many of the above mentioned problems related tolandfill.

For most waste that includes organic materials, flue gases need to reacha minimum temperature to ensure proper breakdown of toxic organicsubstances and must sustain that temperature for a period of time,usually a few seconds. For example, European standards require that theflue gases achieve a temperature of at least 1,560 F. for at least 2seconds. To assure such temperatures, the incinerators require forcedair convection systems and, for some waste, injection of auxiliary fuelssuch as oil or natural gas, etc.

One particularly bothersome pollutant from incineration is dioxin.Dioxin is believed to be a serious health hazard. To breakdown dioxin,the molecular ring of dioxin must be exposed to a sufficiently hightemperature so as to trigger a thermal breakdown of the molecular bond.This is one reason why European standards require achieving of a fluetemperature of 1,560 F. for at least 2 seconds, often requiringinjection of additional fuel into the burning process.

What is needed is an incineration system that uses Magnegas tofacilitate proper combustion and/or secondary combustion to limitpollutants that are emitted into the atmosphere.

SUMMARY

A system for incinerating waste using Magnegas either in the primaryburn process to achieve higher flue temperatures, in a secondaryafter-burn process to reduce pollutants, or in both the primary burnprocess and after-burn process. In some embodiments, Magnegas iscombined with another fuel such as oil or natural gas for the desiredburn characteristics or for economic reasons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill inthe art by reference to the following detailed description whenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of an exemplary system forincinerating waste.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferredembodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description,the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in the figure.

Throughout this description, the apparatus is described as a system forincinerating waste, in which, the term “waste” is meant to be the mostgeneric interpretation as possible, in which, the material beingincinerated may include any type of materials often found in municipalwaste, including, but not limited to, plastics, cardboard, unused foods,metals, wood, vegetation, baby diapers, etc.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary system for the production of acombustible gas, herein called Magnegas, which is used herein incombustion related to incineration. This is but an example of one systemfor the production of Magnegas, as other such systems are alsoanticipated. Examples of fully operational systems for the production ofMagnegas can be found in U.S. Pats. No. 7,780,924 issued Aug. 24, 2010,U.S. Pat. No. 6,183,604 issued Feb. 6, 2001, U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,966issued Apr. 1, 2003, U.S. Pat. No. 6,972,118 issued Dec. 6, 2005, U.S.Pat. No. 6,673,322 issued Jan. 6, 2004, U.S. Pat. No. 6,663,752 issuedDec. 16, 2003, U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,872 issued Aug. 9, 2005, and U.S.Pat. No. 8,236,150 issued Aug. 7, 2012, all of which are incorporated byreference. The production of such a gas (e.g. Magnegas) is performedwithin the plasma 18 of a submerged electric arc.

A feedstock 22 is circulated within a tank 12 and is exposed to theplasma 18 of an electric arc between two electrodes 14/16, causing thefeedstock 22 to react and release gas. The arc is powered by a source ofelectric power 10.

One exemplary feedstock 22 is oil, and more particularly, used vegetableor animal oil such as that from deep-fat fryers, etc. Of course, any oilis anticipated, including unused vegetable oil, oil from animal fat,used hydrocarbon-based oil, unused hydrocarbon-based oil, etc.

Any feedstock 22 is anticipated either in fluid form or fluid mixed withsolids, preferably fine-grain solids such as carbon dust, etc.

In one example, the feedstock 22 is vegetable oil and the electrodes14/16 are carbon, the oil molecules separate within the plasma 18 of theelectric arc into a gas 24 referred to here-within as Magnegas 24,typically including hydrogen (H₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) atoms, whichseparated from the feedstock 22 for collection (e.g. extracted through acollection pipe 26. This gas 24 (e.g. Magnegas) is similar to syntheticnatural gas or syngas, but the gas produced though this process behavesdifferently and produces a higher burn temperature. In embodiments inwhich at least one of the electrodes 14/16 that form the arc 18 is madefrom carbon, the electrode(s) 14/16 and serves as a source of chargedcarbon particles (e.g., carbon nanoparticles) that become suspendedwithin the gas 24 and are collected along with the gas 24, therebychanging the burning properties of the resulting gas 24.

In examples in which the feedstock 22 is a petroleum-based liquid, theexposure of this petroleum-based feedstock 22 to the arc (as above)results in a gas that includes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons which,in some embodiments, are quasi-nanoparticles that are not stable and,therefore, some of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons will form/jointo become nanoparticles or a liquid. Therefore, some polycyclic aromatichydrocarbons as well as some carbon particles/nanoparticles are presentin the resulting gas 24. In some embodiments, some of the carbonparticles or nanoparticles are trapped or enclosed in poly cyclic bonds.Analysis of the produced gas 24 typically includes polycyclic aromatichydrocarbons that range from C6 to C14. The presence of polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbons as well as carbon particles or nanoparticlescontributes to the unique burn properties of the resulting gas 24. Thisleads to higher burning temperatures.

In another example, when the feedstock 22 is petroleum based (e.g. usedmotor oil) and at least one of the electrodes 14/16 are carbon, thepetroleum molecules separate within the plasma of the electric arc 18into a gas 24 that includes hydrogen (H₂) and aromatic hydrocarbons,which percolate to the surface of the petroleum liquid 22 for collection(e.g. extracted through a collection pipe 26. In some embodiments, thegas 24 (Magnegas) produced though this process includes suspended carbonparticles since at least one of the electrodes of the arc 18 is madefrom carbon and serves as the source for the charged carbon particles ornanoparticles that travel with the manufactured hydrogen and aromatichydrocarbon gas 24 and are collected along with, for example, thehydrogen and aromatic hydrocarbon molecules, thereby changing theburning properties of the resulting gas 24, leading to a hotter flame.In this example, if the feedstock 22 is oil (e.g. used oil) and thefluid/gas 24 collected includes any or all of the following: hydrogen,ethylene, ethane, methane, acetylene, and other combustible gases to alesser extent, plus suspended charged carbon particles or nanoparticlesthat travel with these gases.

The resulting gas is fed into either one or both burning operations asshown in FIG. 1. The gas 24 produced by the above operation, referred toas Magnegas 24, is introduced to the incineration process at any or allof three steps.

In the exemplary incineration system shown in FIG. 1, waste 132 isstaged before entry into the system in, for example, a hopper 130. Someamount of the waste 132 is fed into a primary incinerator or kiln 140through a feed mechanism 134, for example, through a feed screw 134.Within the kiln 140, a high temperature is generated in order todecompose and decontaminate the waste 132. In some embodiments, the hightemperature is generated through burning of the waste 132 by injectingair from an air injection system 92. In some embodiments, the combustionis generated through burning of combination of the gas 24 and a fuel 90such as oil or natural gas. Such combustion produces relatively hightemperatures, but for some waste 132, higher temperatures are neededthan those achieved using fuel oil or natural gas alone. For such, theintroduction of the Magnegas 24 into the primary incineration chamber140 through a feed line 180, either separate, or in conjunction withanother fuel such as oil or natural gas, produces a significantly highertemperature, providing better decontamination of such waste 132, inparticular, improved breakdown of pollutants such as dioxins. EitherMagnegas 24 alone or a combination of Magnegas 24 and other fuels 90 (orohmic heating) produces the high temperatures needed to decontaminatethe waste 132. In some embodiments, an agitator 142 agitates or rotatesthe kiln 140 to expose more of the waste 132 to the high temperaturesand effectively/thoroughly decontaminate all of the waste 132 within thekiln.

For brevity purposes, the exit for solids from the waste 132 is notshown, but it is anticipated that a dumping action or another screwdevice will remove residual solids (not shown) from the kiln 140, which,is later sorted and mined for metals, etc.

In some embodiments, exhaust gases from the kiln are directed into asecondary burn chamber 150 through an exhaust mechanism 145. In someembodiments, the exhaust mechanism 145 is a simple length of insulatedor uninsulated pipe, transferring exhaust gases into the secondary burnchamber. In some embodiments, the exhaust mechanism 145 treats and/orscrubs the exhaust gases by, for example, cooling the exhaust gases orfiltering the exhaust gases.

In some embodiments, the exhaust gases are optionally cooled by achiller 143 and then mixed with the gas 24 (Magnegas) from a gas 24 feedline 182 before entering the secondary burn chamber 150 where theexhaust gases and the Magnegas 24 are combusted.

In some embodiments, the exhaust gases are mixed with Magnegas 24 fromanother gas feed line 184 within the secondary burn chamber 150. Asecondary burn takes place in the secondary chamber 150. The secondaryburn further combusts and cleans the exhaust gases to reduce pollutants,in particular, reducing dioxin by breaking down the molecular bonds ofdioxin. By using Magnegas 24 in the secondary burn process, theresulting exhaust which travels out of the system through an exhaustdevice/chimney 152 is cleaner than if the exhausts from the initial burnwe allowed into the atmosphere.

Note that, since the burning of the waste 132, along with other fuels(e.g., oil, gas, and/or Magnegas 24) generates significant heat 141/151.It is fully anticipated that, in some embodiments, the excess heat isused to generate power 192 (e.g. electrical power 192) using, forexample, a steam turbine 190 or fuel cell 190.

In summary, the gas 24 produced within the arc 18 is used in any or allof the following incineration steps: the gas 24 is used in the primaryburning chamber 140 to increase the temperature at which the waste 132is burned; the gas 24 is mixed with flue gases from the primaryincineration and, the mixed flue gases and Magnegas 24 is burned; andthe gas 24 is used in the secondary burning chamber 50 to completelyburn all exhaust fumes from the primary burning process. In all cases,it is anticipated that Magnegas is either used as a sole fuel tofacilitate combustion, or Magnegas is used in conjunction with anotherfuel including, but not limited to, oil, propane, natural gas, syntheticnatural gas, diesel, gasoline, etc., depending upon temperaturesrequired and economic factors.

In some embodiments, the primary burn process in the primary burnchamber 140, after initiation, continues through combustion of thematerials being incinerated in the primary burn chamber 140, withoutfurther injection of other fuels. In such, in some embodiments, the gas24 is mixed with these flue gases from the primary incineration and, themixed flue gases and Magnegas 24 is burned; and/or the gas 24 isinjected into the secondary burning chamber 50 to completely burn allexhaust fumes from the primary burning process.

Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above suchthat they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially thesame way for achieving substantially the same result.

It is believed that the system and method as described and many of itsattendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. Itis also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may bemade in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereofwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or withoutsacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein beforedescribed being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. Itis the intention of the following claims to encompass and include suchchanges.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for incinerating waste, the systemcomprising: a primary combustion chamber; means for feeding an amount ofwaste into the primary combustion chamber; means for burning the wastewithin the primary combustion chamber fueled by a fluid comprising a gasthat was produced by exposing a feedstock to an electric arc; and anexhaust interfaced to the primary combustion chamber, the exhaustextracting fumes from the primary combustion chamber.
 2. The system forincinerating waste of claim 1, wherein the fluid further comprises amaterial selected from the group consisting of natural gas, propane,acetylene, oil and syngas.
 3. The system for incinerating waste of claim1, wherein the primary combustion chamber is agitated to expose thewaste to the means for burning.
 4. The system for incinerating waste ofclaim 1, wherein air is injected into the primary combustion chamber toimprove combustion and increase flue temperatures.
 5. The system forincinerating waste of claim 1, further comprising a secondary combustionchamber interfaced to the exhaust, whereby a second fluid comprising thegas is combined with the fumes from the primary combustion chamber andburned, reducing pollutants before the exhaust is released to theatmosphere.
 6. The system for incinerating waste of claim 1, wherein thefluid comprises is Magnegas.
 7. The system for incinerating waste ofclaim 5, further comprising a generator coupled to the primarycombustion chamber and/or coupled to the secondary combustion chamber,the generator using heat from the primary combustion chamber and/orcoupled to the secondary combustion chamber to produce usable power. 8.The system for incinerating waste of claim 7, wherein the usable poweris electricity.
 9. A system for incinerating waste, the systemcomprising: a primary combustion chamber having means for feeding anamount of waste into the primary combustion chamber, and having anexhaust for venting exhaust gases; a burner within the primarycombustion chamber, the burner fueled by a fluid comprising a gas thatwas produced by exposing a feedstock to an electric arc; a secondarycombustion chamber; the exhaust of the primary combustion chamberfluidly interfaced to the secondary combustion chamber, therebytransferring exhaust gases from the primary combustion chamber to thesecondary combustion chamber; and whereas, the gas is combined with theexhaust gases from the primary combustion chamber and the combination ofthe gas and the exhaust gases are burned in the secondary combustionchamber before being released from the secondary combustion chamber. 10.The system for incinerating waste of claim 9, wherein the fluid furthercomprises a material selected from the group consisting of natural gas,propane, acetylene, oil and syngas.
 11. The system for incineratingwaste of claim 9, wherein the feedstock comprises a material selectedfrom the group consisting of oil, unused vegetable oil, oil from animalfat, used hydrocarbon-based oil, and unused hydrocarbon-based oil. 12.The system for incinerating waste of claim 9, wherein the primarycombustion chamber is agitated to expose the waste to the means forburning.
 13. The system for incinerating waste of claim 9, wherein airis injected into the primary combustion chamber to improve combustionand increase flue temperatures.
 14. The system for incinerating waste ofclaim 9, wherein the gas is combined with the exhaust gases from theprimary combustion chamber before the exhaust gases enters the secondarycombustion chamber.
 15. The system for incinerating waste of claim 9,wherein the gas is combined with the exhaust gases from the primarycombustion chamber within the secondary combustion chamber.
 16. A methodfor incinerating waste, the method comprising: producing a gas byexposing a feedstock to an electric arc; feeding waste into a primarycombustion chamber; burning the waste within the primary combustionchamber using a fluid comprising the gas; and transferring exhaust gasesproduced by the burning out of the primary combustion chamber.
 17. Themethod for incinerating waste of claim 16, further comprising: mixingthe exhaust cases from the primary combustion with the gas into a mixedgas; combusting the mixed gas within a secondary combustion chamber; andreleasing an exhaust from the secondary combustion chamber.
 18. Themethod for incinerating waste of claim 16, wherein the fluid furthercomprises a material selected from the group consisting of natural gas,propane, acetylene, oil and syngas.
 19. The method for incineratingwaste of claim 16, wherein the feedstock comprises a material selectedfrom the group consisting of oil, unused vegetable oil, oil from animalfat, used hydrocarbon-based oil, and unused hydrocarbon-based oil. 20.The method for incinerating waste of claim 16, further comprisinggenerating of power from heat produced by the step of burning and/or thestep of combusting.